Palatine Jaycees Hold Fourth of July Festival

The Palatine Jaycees are once again sponsoring one of the largest festivals in the area in the 55th annual July 4th celebration on June 29th through July 4th at the Community Park on Palatine Road and Northwest Highway.

"The Festival theme is once again Hometown Fest,” said Jackie Butler, Co-Chair of the Festival.  "With this theme, we are highlighting the hometown atmosphere that we enjoy here in Palatine.  As we always do, we’ve made this Festival for the entire community.  We have events and activities for all ages with the Arts & Crafts Fair/Business & Charity Expo, the ever popular parade and fireworks, Family Day and a wide variety of food and music."

The Jaycees are adding a new event to the festival this year.  On Sunday, July 1st from Noon until 2:00 PM the Jaycees are trying to set a new world record for the most people playing a hand held video game at one time at one location.  Everyone wishing to participate is asked to bring their own video game to the park at Noon.  There is a $2.00 fee for participation.  All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

"We always plan the Festival so that there is something for everybody," said Paul Castle, Co-Chair of the Festival.  “The carnival will have midway games and rides for children as well as adults throughout the Festival and will once again this year feature the Mega Pass.  This pass will allow someone to enjoy the rides anytime the carnival is open.  The passes are $70.00 and will be sold Wednesday, June 27th from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Park District Building located at 250 East Wood Street.  Individuals will be given a certificate that can be redeemed for a Mega Pass at Hometown Fest.  If individuals are unable to make it to the Park District, passes will be available at the Fest for $80.00.”

On Saturday and Sunday (June 30th and July 1st) the Arts & Crafts Fair/Business & Charity Expo will have over 100 exhibits of pottery, jewelry, paintings and a wide variety of other unique items.  On Monday, July 2nd, the Jaycees will be continuing their tradition of setting aside time during the carnival for individuals with special needs with The Kathleen A. Blanck Memorial Carnival for Individuals with Special Needs.  Registration will begin 30 minutes before the rides open at 3:00 PM.  Then for an hour and a half until 4:30 PM, individuals with mental and/or physical disabilities and their families are invited to enjoy complimentary rides.

Bingo lovers will also be able to enjoy their passion at the Festival.  On Saturday, June 30th bingo will start at 1:00 PM and then run until 6:00 PM in the food tent at the Festival.  On Sunday, July 1st, starting at 1:00 PM for registration and warm-ups, will be the Hometown Toss Corn Hole Tournament.  For $20.00 per team, individuals will be able to compete for prizes and bragging rights throughout Palatine.

"Since families are what bind our community together, we have set aside Wednesday, July 4th as Family Day, a day of activities that the entire family can enjoy," said Jennifer Iannuzzelli, co-chair of the Festival.  "From 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM Palatine's families will be entertained with three bouncy houses, rely races, a water balloon toss, crawling contest for babies 18 months and under as well as a coloring and painting table.  At Family Day, we’ll have something for children of all ages and interests.”

The parade, which will begin on Cedar Street on Saturday, June 30th starting at 10:00 AM, will have 70 participants of which many of the participating groups will provide music and entertainment.  Palatine Township officials will be collecting food for the Palatine Township Food Pantry in the 16th annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors food drive.  Individuals are also encouraged to bring food donations to the Pop and Water tent on the Festival site after the parade and throughout the Festival.

The most anticipated event during the celebration is the fireworks display.  The fireworks show will be held on Tuesday evening, July 3rd at approximately 9:30 PM at dusk.  This year’s show will, according to Co-Chair Butler, "incorporate all of last year’s crowd favorite pyrotechnics as well as some that the committee feels the community will appreciate."

Throughout the Festival a wide variety of music will satisfy the senses.  Wall of Denial, Diving for Dynamite and Mike and Joe will perform on June 29th while on the following day (June 30th) The Slam, Regalia, Pirates over 40, He Said She Said and Hairbanger’s Ball will take the stage.  Stay Tuned, Whiskey Tango, Stockwood and Piano Man will be providing live main stage entertainment on July 1st and on Monday, July 2nd there will be an open mic night and Twenty Over featuring Angie Star will be performing.  The final night for main stage entertainment will be on Tuesday, July 3rd and will feature the Battle of the Bands winner, Castle Chiropractic Band, Darryl Markette, New Vinyl Experience, Mellencougar and Bucket Number 6.

For food, some of Palatine's best eateries and civic groups will supply pizza, hamburgers, ribs, ice cream and some international treats to satisfy the heartiest of appetites.  Some of the restaurants and groups supplying food will be American Legion Post 690, Beef on the Moove, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, Cinnamon Nuts, Genoa Italian Concessions, Georgie’s Greek Tasty Foods, Heybeck’s Meat Market, Immanuel Lutheran Church, JJ Twigs, Jamba Juice, Lee’s Concessions, Lunch Wagon, Pancho’s Mexican Food, Photo’s Hotdogs and Signature Sweets.

The Palatine Chapter of the Jaycees is one of the nearly 100 local Chapters throughout the State and one of the largest chapters in Illinois.  The Jaycees provide individuals between the age of 21 and 40 the opportunity to develop personal and leadership skills while serving their community.

The Palatine Chapter holds their monthly general meeting on the third Thursday of the month at 7:30 PM at the American Legion Hall on Palatine Road in Palatine.  For further information on the Palatine Jaycees, membership or any of their sponsored events write to the Palatine Jaycees, Post Office Box 1517, Palatine, IL 60078-1517, call them at 847-604-0288, email them at info@palatinejaycees.org or visit their web site at www.palatinejaycees.org.

Hometown Fest 2012 Schedule of Events

 
Friday, June 29
Adult Beverages   5:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Carnival Wristbands  5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Carnival    5:00 PM - Midnight
Food and Soda   5:00 PM – Midnight
Entertainment:
Wall of Denial    5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Diving for Dynamite  7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Mike and Joe   10:00 PM - 11:55 PM

Saturday, June 30
Dignitaries Reception  8:15 AM - 9:30 AM
Parade    10:00 AM
Arts/Crafts Expo  Noon – 6:00 PM
Adult Beverages   Noon – 11:30 PM
Bingo    1:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Carnival Wristbands  Noon – 10:00 PM
Carnival   Noon - Midnight
Food and Soda   Noon – Midnight
Entertainment:
The Slam   Noon – 2:00 PM
Regalia                         2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Pirates over 40   5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
He Said She Said  7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Hairbanger’s Ball  10:00 PM - 11:55 PM

Sunday, July 1
Arts/Crafts Expo  Noon – 6:00 PM
Adult Beverages   Noon – 10:00 PM
Carnival Wristbands  Noon – 10:00 PM
Carnival   Noon - 10:00 PM
Food and Soda   Noon – 10:00 PM
Life Source Blood Drive  Noon – 7:00 PM
World Record Breaking  Noon - 2:00 PM
Hometown Toss   Approx. 2:00 PM
Entertainment:
Stay Tuned   Noon – 2:00 PM
Whiskey Tango   2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Stockwood   5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Piano Man   8:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Monday, July 2
Book Mobile   3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Adult Beverages   5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Carnival Wristbands  5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Carnival   5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Special Needs Carnival   3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Food and Soda   2:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Entertainment:
Open Mic   5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Twenty Over with Angie Star 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Tuesday, July 3
Adult Beverages   Noon – 11:30 PM
Carnival   Noon - Midnight
Carnival Wristbands  Noon – 5:00 PM
Food and Soda   Noon – Midnight
Fireworks   9:30 PM
Entertainment:
Battle of the Bands Winner Noon – 12:45 PM
Castle Chiropractic Band 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
Darryl Markette   2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
New Vinyl Experience  4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Mellencougar   7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Bucket Number 6   10:00 PM – 11:55 PM

Wednesday, July 4
Adult Beverages   Noon – 5:00 PM
Carnival   Noon – 5:00 PM
Carnival Wristbands  Noon – 5:00 PM
Family Day   11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Food and Soda   Noon – 5:00 PM